The Seamanship Examiner

For STCW Certification Examinations

David House, Farhan Saeed

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781317199984
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Marine Transportation
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The complete study and revision guide for the International Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

For all ranks and serving crew in the mercantile marine, this study pack covers everything students need to revise when preparing for the oral assessment taken as part of the Deck Certificate of Competency at either junior or senior levels.

Since publication of the first edition, there have been many new innovations throughout the industry. This guide is fully updated to reflect these changes and includes practice questions on International Safety Management (ISM), Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS), as well as hundreds of additional tutorial questions throughout the book and the accompanying downloadable resources.

This edition of The Seamanship Examiner has been fully updated with the latest amendments to the COLREGs and is a trusted study aid for all international STCW Deck Officer candidates including Officer of the Watch, Chief Mate and Master positions, plus those working coastal and inland waters in the fishing industry such as Deck Officers.

1 Questions for the rank of Officer of the Watch

DOI: 10.4324/9781315561004-1

INTRODUCTION

The sequence of questions and answers in this chapter are directed towards Junior Officers of the Mercantile Marine who are studying or who intend to study for the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Seamanship Oral Examination, conducted by the Marine Authorities around the world. The Junior Officer should familiarise himself or herself with the topics of the respective syllabus prior to entering for the examination. It should be realised from the onset that general seamanship is a vast subject and covers many topics often with numerous variants. In order to be successful in the examination, candidates need to portray a confident attitude as being first and foremost a competent seaman.

The marine examiners do not expect candidates for the qualification of Officer of the Watch (OOW) to be superhuman. However, they do expect candidates to present themselves in a smart manner and show an in-depth knowledge of the art of good seamanship. This does not mean individuals will be expected to know everything about everything; this is clearly an impossible task. Certain areas of questioning must be considered as essential to the conduct of the examination, like ‘rules of the road’ questions. If these were answered incorrectly, the examiner would be unlikely to issue the candidate with a licence to be in charge of a navigation bridge. For further information, extracts from Marine Guidance Notice (MGN) 69 (Conduct of Candidates) are given in Appendix A.

It should be remembered that this is the first of several rungs of the ladder towards the successful attainment of becoming a Master Mariner and it is not a qualification to be taken lightly. It will allow the candidate to take charge of a navigational watch at sea, and on deck when the vessel is in port. Once the licence is issued, the candidate will be called upon to act as the Master’s representative in many and varied situations. This responsibility is known by the examiner, and the candidate should ensure that when presenting himself for examination, he should be well prepared with regard to all the related subjects for that rank.

BRIDGE PROCEDURES (OOW)

Question 1. After completing the 8–12 night watch at sea and handing over to the Second Officer, what would be your actions?

Answer: Having handed over the watch, I would complete writing up the Deck Log Book and sign the book as a true record of events. I would proceed below decks and carry out ship rounds and security checks, inspecting all accommodation alleyways, storage and domestic spaces.

Question 2. What specific items/topics would you include, when handing over the navigation watch to another relief Officer?

Answer: I would expect to follow any company policy and include the following:

1. Appraise the relieving Officer of the ship’s course, gyro and magnetic headings, highlighting any compass or gyro errors.
2. Provide the relieving Officer with the current updated position of the vessel and indicate the position respective to the chart.
3. Draw attention to any visible shipping traffic and provide details as to the current actions and intentions affecting relevant targets.
4. Appraise the Watch Officer of the current weather patterns and advise on the past and present state of visibility, passing on the latest weather report.
5. The Watch Officer would be appraised of any night orders left by the Master.
6. If it is relevant, I would draw attention to the next ‘way point’ and any expected alteration of course.
7. If making a landfall or in coastal regions, the under-keel clearance would be noted and attention drawn to the least oncoming areas of depth and any rising light ranges expected.
8. Any potential navigational hazards or possible security incursions would be discussed in conjunction with the ‘passage plan’.
9. Should any defects have occurred, these would be brought to the attention of the OOW (as well as the Master, as they occur) and noted in the Log Book as appropriate.
10. The OOW would be appraised of all the operational instruments as to their performance. Radar specifics such as range and presentation would also be positively discussed.
11. It would also be normal practice to discuss events and activities over the previous watch period that may or may not affect the overall performance of the vessel.

Note: As the outgoing OOW, it would be my duty to ascertain the state and condition of the relieving Officer. Having let the incoming Officer adjust his eyes to the light and visibility conditions, I would note any adverse feelings that may be affecting the relieving Officer, which may have been caused by sickness, overtiredness, drugs or alcohol. (In such an event where an Officer felt that the relieving Officer was not in a fit state to carry out normal watchkeeping duties, he would be expected to inform the Master of his doubts.)

Question 3. While acting as OOW, you encounter deterioration in the condition of visibility. What action would you take?

Answer: As OOW I would take the following actions:

1. Place the ship’s main engines on standby and reduce the vessel’s speed.
2. Advise the Master of the change in visibility conditions.
3. Commence sounding fog signals.
4. Switch on the navigation lights.
5. Close all watertight doors in the vessel.
6. Commence systematic plotting of any targets on the radar.
7. Place a current position on the chart.
8. Post additional lookouts.
9. Stop all noisy work on deck.
10. Enter a statement of my actions into the ship’s Deck Log Book.

Question 4. When would you consider it necessary, as OOW, to call the Master?

Answer: The OOW should call the Master in any of the following circumstances:

1. In the event of visibility dropping below 4 miles (company policy may be more or less than this figure).
2. If traffic was causing concern affecting the safe passage of the vessel.
3. In the event of failure of any of the ship’s navigational equipment.
4. If failing to sight a landfall when expecting to.
5. If sighting a landfall when it is unexpected.
6. If soundings are shelving when unexpected.
7. In the event that difficulty is experienced in maintaining the course.
8. If a scheduled position is unattainable or suspect.
9. In the event that the man management of watchkeepers becomes untenable.
10. In the event of heavy weather or on receipt of a bad weather forecast.
11. On sighting ice, or receiving an ice warning being reported on or near the vessel’s track.
12. If sighting oil on the surface.
13. On any issue of security or shipboard alert.
14. In any other emergency, such as fire or flooding, imminent contact or contact with a submerged object.

Question 5. When on watch at night, the alarm for the non-function of navigation lights is activated, what action would you take as OOW?

Answer:

• I would immediately inspect the navigation light sentinel to ascertain which navigation light had malfunctioned and caused the alarm to be triggered.
• I would make a note of the defective light and switch the backup light on in its place and cancel the alarm.
• In the event the light circuit had failed, I would activate the secondary circuit and cancel the alarm.
• During the hours of darkness it may not be prudent, following a risk assessment, to repair the light or circuit before daylight hours, provided navigation lights remain operational on one or other circuits. In any event the Master would be informed and repairs instigated during daylight hours.

Question 6. When approaching a pilot station to take the Marine Pilot, you are sent down below to meet the Pilot on deck at the ladder position. What actions would you take when at the ladder position?

Answer:

• As a responsible Officer, I would inspect the rigging of the ladder, especially the deck, securing hitches of the ladder’s rope tails.
• I would further ensure that the stanchions and manropes were correctly rigged.
• The pilot station would expect to have a heaving line and a lifebuoy readily available and I would check that these were on hand.
• It must be anticipated that the standby man would also be on station and the immediate deck area was safe and clear of obstructions.
• If all was in order, I would report to the bridge (by two-way radio) m...